Combined ground working and pulverizing machine



L. BIRD May 17, 1932.

COMBINED GROUND WORKING AND PULVERIZING MACHINE Original Filed June .21.192'? 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 5 .B/RD.

WLAW.

May 17, 1932.

Original Filed June 21, 192'? L. BIRD COMBINED GROUND WORKING ANDPULVERIZING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 rlL mwm

May 17, 1932. 1.. BIRD 1,858,948

COMBINED GROUND WORKING AND PULVERIZING MACHINE Original Filed June 21,192' 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 gwuwwtor,

.ZEE Bl/FO.

L. BIRD COMBINED GROUND WORKING AND PULVERIZING MACHINE Origipal FiledJune 21. 192 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I g I 11' 31mm .1755 B/AD Wm w W PatentedMay 17, 1932 UNITED STATES.

LEE BIRD, OF ROCK SPRING, GEORGIA COMBINED GROUND WORKING ANDrnnvnnrznve MACHINE,

Original application filed June 21, 1927, Serial No. 200,490. Dividedand this application filed July 31,

1928. Serial No. 296,459.

This invention relates to combined spaders and pulverizers and is adivision of my application, Serial Number 200,490., filed June 21, 1927,Patent Number 1,681,835, patented Aug. 21, 1928.

At the present time, it is common practice to first go over a fieldseveral times with some sort of ha-rrow to break up the lumps to. renderthe soil fit for planting. I have found 1 that even after thistreatment, the soil in some parts of the country will still not befinely pulverized.

In one type of ground working implements, it is customary to have aplurality of cylindrical ground contacting elements under control of asingle draft means and connected to a single frame. Difiiculty hassometimes been experienced in keeping uniform pressure upon the groundthroughout :0 the length of the implement and in keeping the elementsproperly aligned.

The primary object of the present invention is the pro-vision of a framefor a device which will at the same time spade the earth and break upthe lumps, thereby saving time in going over the field many times.

A-still further object of my invention is the provision of a frame for aground working implement having drums for carrying ground engagingtools, a frame for the machine, means for angling the drums and meansfor guiding the drums including an arcuate guide means.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a frame for aground working implement having rotating angling drums carrying earthengaging elements, the drums having separate mountings for the bearingsfor the rotary movement and the angling movement.

A still further objectof my invention is the provision of a frame for aground working implement having a pair of angling drums and means forangling the drums and for, at the same time, maintaining the axes of thedrums in substantially the same horizontal plane.

Astill further object of my invention is the provision of a-frame for aground work 50 mg implement having a pair of angling drums, means forangling thedrums and for pivoting the axes of the drum in oppositedirections and for guiding the movable ends in substantially ahorizontal plane along an arcuate path, and means for connection witharc-uate path for absorbing the thrust antifrictionally.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan view of my invention showingthe drums in transport or road position.

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a side view.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4*4: of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5. is a detail view of the drum guide and position retainingmember.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are detail views of parts of the construction. 1

Figs. 9and 10 are enlarged detail views of the soil working elements.

Like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughoutthe several views of the drawings.

The numeral 20 designates the draft device of the implement which isattached at the forward end of the frame. The frame comprises acentrally extending'member 21 and two laterally extending. members 22and 23. Between the members 21 and 22 and between the members. 21 and 23are two brace members 24 and 25 respectively' The outer portions of theside members 22 and 23 are bent inwardly at a position parallel to eachother and are attached respectively to the bearing members26 and 27which form portions of 3 the mountings for the outer'ends of the drumsto be described.

The rear portion of the frame member 21 is secured to a member 28,presently to be described; this memberbeing shown in Fig. 5. Secured tothe bearing members 26 and 27 are upright portions 29 and 30 of a frame31. At the center of the frame 31 is, the vertical frame portion 32which connects to the member 28 to be described. i i

As above described the members 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30,31, and 32 form a rigid frame for holding in position the drums withtheir ground engaging members to be described. I I

their axes for the reception of cotter pins 39 and 40. As shown in Fig.3, a washer 41 may be provided between the cotter pin and the bearingmembers 26 and 27. y

The members 26, 27, 35," 36, 37, 38, form together the mountings for theouter ends of the drums to be described.

It will be noted that the upright spindles 0r stub shafts 37 and 38 arevertical and thus permit of the swinging of the Shafts 33 and 34 aboutthe axes of the spindles 37 and 38 respectively. I i

The inner ends of the drum shafts are mounted in special mountings whichI have designated generally by the numerals 42 and 43. The mountings areprovided with bearings for" the "ends of the shafts 33 and 34respectively and are provided with bearings for co-action with the sidesof the member 28 to prevent endwise movement of the shafts 33 and 34inwardly.

Each shaft 33, 34 is provided with two bearing surfaces in therespective mountings 42 and 43. Shoulders 44 and 45 are provided 'on theshafts 33 and 34 respectively. These shoulders 44 and 45 engagecorresponding surfaces of thrust bushings 46 and 47 of the respectivemounting members 42 and 43 and there are provided ball thrust or othersuitable bearing members which provide for the easy operation of theshafts 33, 34'when the latter are under pressure to be forced inwardlyas when the device is in operation with drums angled. The members 42 and43 are constructed in the shape of'housings. These housings 42 and 43entirely inclose the thrust bushings 46 and 47 and the thrust bearings48 and 49 respectively. The thrust bushings 46 and 47 are provided withsuitable set screws as at 50. These hold the bushings in place withrelation to the shafts 33 and 34. The openings for the thrust bushings46and 47 and the thrust bearings 48 and 49 are just sufficient to permitfree movement of the bushings and bearings without binding action.

In assembling the parts at this point, the thrust bushings 46 and 47 areplaced in the housings respectively and the shafts 33 and 34 areinserted and passed through the bushings and the bearings. The setscrews, as for example set screw 50, are then tightened and no axialmovement between the shaft and its bearing and the thrust bearings willbe possible. In order to close the opening at the top of the housing andthrough which the thrust bushings 46 and 47 and the bearings 48 and 49were inserted I provide a housing cover which I have designated on Fig.7 as at 51.

These covers 51 completely close the openings in the housings 42 and 43and provide for the reception of oil or other lubricant and to preventthe admission of dirt or other foreign matter. These housing covers 51are provided with holes through which may be inserted bolts 52 to holdthe housing covers in proper position.

The member 28 is provided with arcuate portions 53 which are arranged atopposite sidesand which constitute guide members for the mountings 42and 43. These arcuate portions each have a curved edge which is a partof a circle whose radius is equal. to the distance from the guide to theaxes of the mounting of the bearing members 35 and 36. Connecting themountings 42 and 43 respectively, with the mountings 35 and 36 areU-shaped members 53 and 54. The bearing member 35, the U-shaped member53, and the mounting 42 form the pivoted frame of one drum while thebearing member 36, the U-shaped member 54, and the mounting 43constitute the frame of the other drum.

In the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, I haveshown a means for angling the drums simultaneously. This device is shownin Figs. 1, 3 and 8. At the forward end of the mountings 42 and 43, Ihave placed a bolt, illustrated particularly in Fig. 8. This bolt 55passes through the mounting 43 and also passes through a bushing 56which contacts with an opening 57 in a flat operating rod 58 at its rearend. The forward ends of the rods 58 are secured at 59 to a long nut 60which is threaded on the threaded shaft 61.

At the forward end of the frame members 22 and 23 is mounted a support62 at the upper end of which is pivoted a sleeve 63 to oscillate in avertical plane. This sleeve 63 is provided with an opening of a size toreceive the shaft 61 which is journaled therein. Collars 64 and 65 arepinned to the shaft 61 on opposite sides of the sleeve 63 toprevent'endwise movement of the shaft 61 due to thrust forces. A handwheel 66.is provided on the end of the shaft 61 to turn the same tooperate the long nut 60 which is threaded at the lower end of the shaft61. It is understood that the bolt 55 is provided with the washer 55 andthe nut 55 to retain the bushing 56 in its proper place.

When transporting this implement from one place to another it is to beunderstood tha the axes of the drums will be in a common line and inthis position the implement will roll over the ground without having theground working elements enter to a very great extent. When it is desiredto place the drums in working position it is only necessary to turn thewheel 66 so as to bring a compression in the bars 58. This will forcethe inner ends of the drums to the rearward and the device is ready foroperation. If desired, the implement may be pulled forwardly which willgreatly lessen the manual labor necessary to turn the wheel 66. When thewheel 66 is turned to angle the drums, a thrust is created in the bars58. This causes the inner ends of the drums to move to the rear, themountings 43 and 44 moving along the arcuate edges 67 and 68 of themember 28. These arcuate edges 67 and 68 are formed having the shape ofa portion of a circle having a radius equal to the distance betweenthese arcuate edges and the respective centers of the spindles 37 and38. v

When it is desired to bring the drums from working position to transportposition as shown in Fig. 1, it is only necessary to turn the hand wheel66 in the opposite direction. This results in placing the bars 58 undertension and draws the mountings 43 and 44 forwardly to bring the axes ofthe drums in a common line.

The construction of the drums themselves is shown very well in Fig. 4.In the construction illustrated, there are three wheels which areidentical and which I have designated as 69. These wheels are eachprovided with twenty flat spaces, equally distributed about theirperiphery. These wheels when mounted upon their respective shafts formthe support for a continuous series of slats or bars 70. There is oneslat or bar 70 for contact with each fiat space about the circumferenceof the wheels 69. The bars 70 are each provided with six openings toregister with corresponding openings in the wheels 69.

The ground engaging devices 71 are provided with shanks 7 2 which shanksare in turn provided with openings therethrough for the admission ofsuitable wedges 73. The shanks 7 2 are put through the openings in thebar 70 and the wheel 69, and when the wedges 7 3 are in place, the wholestructure is rigid.

In operation, I have found that the utilization of three of theseopenings in each bar 70 for the attachment of the soil engaging elements31 is suflicient to perform the desired function of the machine. I findthat by arranging the soil working elements 71 of one row so that theadjacent rows, in each case, will be in echelon, the best results areobtained.

When the soil working elements 71 are arranged in this way, it will beseen that with the drums angled, a spiral efiect is obtained so thatthe'soil working elements engage the ground almost in a straight line,due to the spiral arrangement. The exact desired order of sequence inground engagement can be controlled by the degree of angling as I havedescribed for the operation of the hand wheel 66.

I have found, in practice, that this alternate arrangement is veryefficient, particularly with the soil working element of the shape to bepresently described.

In Figs. 9 and 10, I have illustrated the particular shape of the soilworking element. On Fig. 9, the fiat portion 74 is sharpened from aboutthe point A on the forward edge outwardly and along the outer edge tothe point B. In addition to this, the meeting point C of the outer edgeof the soil working element 71 is rounded. This has been found to be animportant feature in that this sharp edge facilitates the cutting of theground as the soil working element enters and as itleaves the surface ofthe ground near the end of the outward movement. This shape of bladepermits theleaving of thesurface of the ground without throwing uplumps.

Assuming the drums to be angled, it will be observed that the soilworking elements 71 are in such a position that they will pointsubstantially in the direction of the line of travel of the implement.As the rotation progresses, the sharp edge AC will enter the ground,followed by the whole body of the soil working element 71. This actiondisplaces very little of the soil. During the outward movement, theaction is quite different. The angular position of the soil element isnow accentuated and the forward movement of the drum in its angledposition causes a sidewise movement of the soil'held by the particularsoil working element 71. As the soil working element 71 begins to leavethe surface of the ground, the sharpforward edge ACB permits the same toeasily leave.

The rearward point B continually moving to the side at an increasinglygreater speed.

The result of this action has been found in actual practice to be thatthe ground is thoroughly shattered without turning the same upside downas is done in the case of a plow of the ordinary type. It has been foundthat soil which was baked hard in thesun could be thoroughly broken upso that there would be no lumps while at the same time the undesirableaction of turning the soil was avoided. The effect produced was similarto the effect which is produced when soil is dynamited for the plantingof trees.

The result is that the soil is given additional water holding qualities,the nitrogen collecting properties of the soil are not disturbed, and inone operation instead of two or more, the soil is ready for planting.

The operation of the device is somewhat similar to the shattering effectwhen a slice of soil is spaded with a hand spade and then the spadeforcibly drawn across the slice while at the same time greater pressureis used with the point than with the upperpart of the spade.

During adjustment of thedrums forwardaxles 33 and 34 respectively i lyand rearwardly, as above described, and during the travel overundulating ground; it is necessary to have means to prevent the innerends of the drums from moving upwardly or downwardly due to a differencein level of the ground. To meet this condition, I have provided a padmember 75 on the mounting 42 and a. similar pad 76 on the mounting 43.These pads 75, 76 rest upon the tops, respectively of the arcuateportions 67 and 68 of the member 28. To prevent upward movement of themountings 42 and 43, I provide extensions from the mountings 42 and 43which I-have designated 77 and 78. These extensions extend under thearcuate portions 67 and 68 in such a way that a portion of the arcuateportion 67 and 68 overlaps and has a lock engagement with the portions 77 and 78 of the mounting 42 and 43 re spectively.

This is clearly shown on Fig. 7. It is also shown clearly in this View,that the mountings 42 and 43 are in contact with the outer surfaces ofthe arcuate portions 67 and 68. From this description it is clear thatthe mountings 42 and 43 may swing with the an are about the extensions37 and 38, but the mmmtings cannot move in any direction except alongthe arcuate members 67, 68. In this manner the shafts are always kept inthe plane which is determined by the arcuate members 67, 68 and themembers 35 and 36 which carry the shafts 33 and 34. Any tendency of thedrums to move the shafts 33 and 34 out of this relation will simplybring pressure on the member 32 and the frame 31 without causing anymovement as a result of this pressure.

In order to provide a combined cleaning and cutting device for cuttingup clods, corii stalks, or other large pieces which may be met in thefield, I have provided angularly positioned channeled members 7 9. Thechan nel bars 79 are secured to the U-shaped mem bers 63 in any suitablemanner as by riveting or welding. The forward ends of the channelmembers 7 9 are of such a shape that the clods, corn stalks, etc. whicharebrought out of the ground, will be out between the blades 71 and thechannel members 79. These channel members 79 are so placed at an anglethat they will follow the curvature of the ground engaging members 71and will come close to, but not in touch with the bars 70 of the drums.

When the clods, corn stalks, etc. are picked up by the ground engagingdevices 71, they will be drawn or broken in pieces between the groundengaging members 71 and the channel members 79.

Inspection of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 will clearly show the feature ofmaintaining the axes of the drums in a substantially horizontal planeregardless of the adjustment. Since the arcuate portions 53 are inahorizontal plane,

the adjustment of the drums to angular position will move the inner endsof the shafts to the rear. But since these inner ends are constrained tomove along the surfaces 67 and 68, the shafts 33 and 34 will still be ina substantially horizontal plane. It is to be noted that the part 32 ofthe frame which supports the arcuate portions 53, maintains its positionrelative to the parts 29 and 30 of the frame. This insures the holdingof the drum axes in proper relation and prevents undulating ground fromcausing the tipping of the drums. It will be seen that were it not forthe frame part and its cooperating parts, the weight of the frame wouldcause greater weight at the outer ends of the drum than at the innerends. This would cause a non-uniform action of the ground workingdevices.

While I have shown and described, in detail, an embodiment of myinvention, I desire to have it understood that modifications and changesmay be made without departing from the spirit of my invention and withinthe scope of the appended claims and that I do not limit myself to theexact showing.

Having described my invention what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is 1. A ground working implement having a plurality ofdrums arranged in an end to end relation and carrying ground engagingdevices, a single means for simultaneously angling the drums relative tothe line of travel and means for holding the drums so that their axeswill remain in the same plane, when in operation, regardless of theangle of adjustment and so that their axes will intersect at a pointbetween the two drums.

2. A ground working implement having a frame, drums arranged in an endto end relation and carrying ground engaging devices, a single means forsimultaneously angling the drums relative to the line of travel topredetermined positions, means for guiding one end of each drum duringthe angling operation along arcuate paths and for holding the drum axesin their predetermined positions when passing over undulating ground thedrums being so mounted that when placed in angled position, the drumaxes will intersect at a point between the two drums.

3. A ground working implement having a frame, a pair of drums arrangedin an end to end relation and carrying ground engaging devices, a singlemeans forsimultaneously angling the drums relative to the line of draftand to each other, to predetermined positions, means for guiding one endof each drum during angling along arcuate paths an d for holding thedrum axes in their predetermined positions when passing over undulatingground the drums being so mounted that when placed in angled position,the drum axes will intersect at a point between the two drums.

4. A ground working implement having a frame, a pair of drums arrangedin an end to end relation and carrying ground engaging devices, a singlemeans for simultaneously angling the drums relative to the line of draftand to each other, to predetermined positions, means for guiding theswinging ends of the drums during angling along arcuate paths and forholding the drum axes in their predetermined positions when passing overundulating ground the drums being so mounted that when placed in angledposition, the drum axes will intersect at a point between the two drums.

5. A ground working implement having a frame,'a pair of drums arrangedin an end to end relation and carrying ground engaging devices, apivotal supporting means for one end of each of the drums, a singlemeans for simultaneously angling the drums relative to the line of draftand to each other to predetermined positions, means for guiding theswinging ends of the drums, during angling, along arcuate paths and forholding the drum axes in their predetermined positions when passing overundulating ground the drums being so mounted that when placed in angledposition, the drum axes will intersect at a point between the two drums.

6. A ground working implement having a frame, a pair of drums arrangedin an end to end relation and carrying ground engaging devices, asupporting shaft, for each drum, the shafts mounted to swing at theirouter ends about axes 90 from the shaft axes, means for simultaneouslyguiding the inner ends of the shafts in substantially the samehorizontal plane during swinging and for holding the shaft in adjustedposition when passing over undulating ground the drums being so mountedthat when placed in angled position, the drum axes will intersect at apoint between the two drums.

7. A ground working implement having a frame, a pair of drums arrangedin an end to end relation and carrying ground engaging devices, asupporting shaft for each drum, the shafts mounted to swing at theirouter ends about axes 90 from the shaft axes, means for simultaneouslyguiding the inner ends of the shafts in substantially the samehorizontal plane during swinging to angled position and for holding theshaft in adj usted position when passing over undulating ground thedrums being so mounted that when swung to angled position, the axes willintersect at a point between the drums and means for absorbing thethrust of the drums when angled while still permitting free rotation ofthe drums.

8. A ground working implement having a frame, a pair of drums carryingground engaging devices, a supporting shaft for each drum, the shaftspivotally mounted'at their outer ends to swing to angular positionsabout axes 90 from the shaft axes, bearing members at the pivot points,the frame comprising an overhead frame member connected at its outerends to the bearingmembers, means supported from the middle of theoverhead member for guiding the inner ends of the shafts insubstantially the same horizontal plane during the swinging to anangular position and for holding the shaft in adjusted position whenpassing over undulating ground. I

9. A ground working implement having a frame, a pair of drums carryingground engaging devices, a supporting shaft for each drum, the shaftspivotally mounted at their outer ends to swing to angular positionsabout axes 90 from the shaft axes, bearing members at the pivot points,the frame comprising an overhead frame member connected at its outerends to the bearing members, means supported from the middle of theoverhead member for guiding the inner ends of the shafts insubstantially the same horizontalplane during the swinging to an angularposition and for holding the shaft in adjusted position when passingover undulating ground and thrust, bearing means for absorbing thethrust of the drums when angled while still permitting free rotation ofthe drums.

10. A ground working implement having a main frame, a pair of drumframes, vertical pivot connections between the main frame and the drumframes, the drum frames having journal bearings at one end adjacent thepivot end and another adjacent the swinging end, a drum on each frameand mounted for pivotal support in the journal bearings; each drum framecomprising a U-shaped member extending around the side of the drum and amounting at the swinging end of each drum and means for confining themovement of the mountings substantially to a plane.

11. A ground working implement having a frame, a pair of drums carryingground engaging devices and mounted end to end, a supporting shaft foreach drum, the shafts mounted to swing at their outer ends about axes 90from the shaft axes, means for guiding the inner ends of the shafts insubstantially the same horizontal plane during swinging and for holdingthe shaft in adjusted position when passing over undulating ground thedrums being so mounted that when swung to angled position, the axes willintersect at a point between the drums, said means including a memberhaving two arcuate guides having edges forming parts of circles havingcenters at the pivots of these respective drums.

12. In a ground working implement of the type having a pair of anglingdrums carrying soil working members, a frame, means for supporting themovable ends of the drums comprising a member provided With two arcuateedges for constraining the movement of the movable ends of the drums toa substantially horizontal plane.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

LEE BIRD.

